Implant delivery system with interlocked RX port orientation

Abstract

A medical implant delivery system maintains an orientation between a guidewire lumen of an inner member of the system and a rapid-exchange port in an outer member. The medical device is disposed intermediate the inner and outer members and in friction or pressure-fit contact with the outer member. Once the guidewire lumen of the inner member and the rapid exchange port of the outer member are oriented, the friction or pressure-fit operates to maintain the orientation until deployment of the medical implant. Orientation is further maintained by a telescoping coupling of the guide wire lumen with the rapid exchange port.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 680,400, filed May 12, 2005 by Khamla Vongphakdy and Huisun Wang, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 680,791, filed May 13, 2005 by Khamla Vongphakdy and Huisun Wang, the entire subject matters of which are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention pertains to a system for delivering an implant to a site in a body lumen. More particularly, this invention pertains to a rapid exchange-type delivery system for a self-expandable implant such as a stent. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Stents are widely used for supporting a lumen structure in a patient's body. For example, a stent may be used to maintain patency of a coronary artery, other blood vessel or other body lumen. One or more stents may be placed in a vascular or non-vascular passage or conduit such as an artery, vein, graft, ureter, urethra, bronchus, eso...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, a system for delivering a medical device within a body lumen compriss: a tubular catheter having proximal and distal ends and comprising an outer shaft member slidably disposed about an inner shaft member; a medical device disposed intermediate the inner and outer shaft members; a guide wire lumen extending at least partially through each of the inner shaft member and the outer shaft member, the guide wire lumen opening exterior of the outer shaft member at a location distal of the catheter proximal end; and an alignment mechanism maintaining alignment of the guide wire lumen relative to the outer shaft member and the inner shaft member.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a system for delivering a medical device within a body lumen comprises: a tubular inner shaft member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining an inner shaft guide wire lumen extending at least partially therethrough; a tubular outer shaft member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining an outer shaft guide wire lumen extending at least partially therethrough and opening exterior of the outer shaft member at a location proximal of the distal end of the outer shaft member, the outer shaft member slidably disposed about the inner shaft member; a medical device disposed intermediate the inner and outer shaft members; and an alignment mechanism maintaining rotational alignment and communication between the portions of the guide wire lumen extending at least partially through the inner shaft member and the outer shaft member.

Problems solved by technology

RX stent delivery systems use short (typically 170 cm) guidewires which can be handled by one operator, whereas OTW stent delivery systems require long (typically 320 cm) guidewires which must be handled by two operators, increasing procedural cost and complexity.

While an RX system may provide advantages over an OTW system, the RX system presents some issues of its own that must be considered.

If the components of the stent delivery system are not properly aligned there can be friction against, or entanglement with, the guidewire.

If this orientation is lost, it may not be possible to mount the delivery system on the guidewire or it might take too much time.

Any delays may be detrimental to the patient.

Further, if the needed orientation is lost, it may not be possible to track the stent to the intended deployment site, or to deploy the stent.

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